I recently had a lot of success starting 'Super Nova' brugmansia from cuttings. I was amazed at how well they could be started in soil-less mix as opposed to a glass of water. I read that both methods were an option so I tried them. After a couple weeks the cutting in water was doing nothing so I waited. Then after about 4 weeks I noticed that the cuttings in the soil-less mix had roots all the way out of the pot and into the saucer.

Well I have a bunch of 'Super Nova' now and would be glad to trade someone cuttings. The flowers on these plants when they're mature are about 10 inches long and smell lemon-sweet at night.

Anyone have other brugmansia? I would love to hear about then.

Patrick

You had good luck with your Super Nova?  I'm having a problem.  I have numerous cuttings in a bucket of water (aerated) but some of these exotics are just driving me nuts.

What mix did you use?  My cutting in soil is most likely dead.  I have a couple that are hanging on in the aerated water.

Are you using perlite or something like that?

Hey thanks for joining the site. I've only grown the Super Nova actually, but am probably going to find other cuttings in the Spring. I've had great luck with Super Nova after I figured out a few things. I didn't know that they are so hungry for water and fertilizer. I have one in a 10 gallon pot that does ok until I set it in a flowerbed. Then it sinks its roots into the bed and starts to take off. Here in Seattle I have to put the brugs into my little greenhouse when it gets cold so I can't leave them in the bed. My solution was to get a huge saucer to set the pot in and always keep it full of water. I also fertilize a lot with bloom booster. Now the only problem I have with these guys is that the mites chew them to bits. The one brug that I take cuttings from is not doing so great in the greenhouse.

Now for cuttings. I did a few experiments. I tried cuttings in plain water at the same time as cuttings in soiless mix. Here's a photo of the water experiment: http://www.iheartgardening.com/photos/phempton/picture133.aspx

That cutting in the jar of water is still there and has filled the jar now with roots. But it took about 2-3 months in the greenhouse with warm temps. The cuttings that I started in the soilless mix were in 3 inch pots. I put rooting hormone on them, stuck them in the pots and again put the little pots in a large saucer. The temps in the greenhouse were never below 70 and the cuttings rooted in a couple weeks. MUCH faster. You know they're ready to transplant when you see white roots circling the saucer. Easy indicator! Then I transplanted them to potting soil. They're happy and growing.

So I would not waste any time with water cuttings. What brugs do you have? Any suggestions on dealing with mites? Spray bottle daily seems to help but I have too much else to do. Upload some photos if you get a chance and I'll take a few more as well.

Patrick

I grow a BUNCH OF BRUGS! I do most of mine in water,but are some that won't root well in water or are slower about getting their roots,or get mushy on bottoms.I believe did supernova by soil & would actually have to look in GH to see if it its still successfully here.I was able to get one to cross for the 1st time and got seeds from seed pod.its a seedling grown(Whiskers x butterfly) crossed is unknown,but can narrow it down to 4 plants.I grow a few doubles.Mites are sometimes hard to keep controlled.i use gardens safe 3-1 fungascide &insectide.I alternate them.i start them off with neem in the spring also.  you would get better water useage if sunk the pots some into the ground and ammended the soil where sinking them too. I can grow mine in ground and they'll return,but i'm doing some in pots& also have the added problem that pollinateing don't take in the heat...hence zonial denial ..so i'm digging some for breeding reasons.my largeset is 10 ft 7 2 7-8 ft ones the rest are 3-4 feet accept some seedlings.I have 28 various potted brugs in GH,besides what left in ground.

 

Have a peek

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v738/njoynit/Brugmansia/

 

njoynit 

Great plants and photos. The good news is that my wife and I are moving back to Austin this summer so I will have enough heat to grow a bunch of them. I recently clipped my SuperNova back to branches to get rid if the bugs and then threw it out in the garden. It seems to be making a comeback.

Which brugmansia do you think have the sweetest scent? I'm looking to get a few other varieties this summer.

 Patrick

My unknown pink has a strong scent.Betty Marshall,goldness kornette.Charles G looks awesome.Cypress gardens does too,but mine didn't bloom last year,but it's 'y'd and in the GH.  My supernova got shaded by my Ti plant,so didn't grow alot.hopefully it will do better this year.Brugmansia's with Aurea genes have the stronger scents.  My trial seedling bolero x apricot queen had a strong scent besides the flowers lasting 5-7 days when they didn't drop.it has Charleston genes.hopefully will get to trial the breed back to charleston& it performs better.only cuttings I have left over are frosty pink.its a good bloomer.  welcome back to Tx when ya get here .